A throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature

Abstract

This invention discloses a throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature, comprising a heat exchanger assembly and an outer flange of the refrigerator. The outer flange is installed below the heat exchanger assembly, and an inflation chamber is formed inside the outer flange. An adjusting component is movably installed inside the inflation chamber. An air inlet pipe is fixedly connected to the middle of the outer flange and communicates with the inner cavity of the inflation chamber. A bottom flange is installed at the top of the air inlet pipe and connects the heat exchanger assembly and the outer flange of the refrigerator. This invention utilizes the coordinated arrangement of the heat exchanger assembly and the adjusting component. Through the pressure regulating component, the cross-section of the outlet of the throttling refrigerator can be automatically adjusted during refrigerator operation, thereby increasing the back pressure in the backflow channel and the back pressure chamber of the throttling refrigerator, raising the boiling point of the working fluid, and thus obtaining a final temperature different from that of a conventional throttling refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of throttling refrigerators, and particularly to a throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature. Background Technology

[0002] A throttling refrigerator mainly consists of a high-pressure gas cylinder, an inlet pipe, a finned tube heat exchanger, a throttling valve, and a Dewar flask. The throttling refrigerator cools the high-pressure working fluid by creating a throttling effect through a small orifice, and continuously cools the inlet working fluid within the heat exchange tubes, causing the temperature of the working fluid to decrease steadily after throttling, ultimately achieving the low temperature of the two-phase region of the working fluid. With the rapid development of micro-low-temperature electronic devices and low-temperature nanotechnology, throttling refrigerators are increasingly being applied in important fields such as national defense, space technology, and biomedicine.

[0003] Throttling-cooled detectors are widely used in infrared detection, especially in applications requiring rapid cooling, such as seekers, due to their small size, rapid cooling, and low electromagnetic interference. However, the final temperature achieved by a throttling cooler is limited by the properties of the working fluid, typically its boiling point at atmospheric pressure (e.g., 77.4K for nitrogen and 87.2K for argon). Infrared chips often require operating temperatures that differ from these corresponding temperatures. If the final temperature range required for chip operation deviates significantly from the boiling point of the working fluid at atmospheric pressure, a throttling cooler cannot be used. This applies to infrared chips requiring a stable operating temperature of 100K ± 1K, or even higher temperatures. Therefore, this invention designs a throttling cooler based on adjusting the cooler's back pressure, which can change the boiling point of the working fluid to obtain stable cooling temperatures in different temperature ranges. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a throttling cooler with controllable cooling temperature, in order to solve the problem that the back pressure chamber of existing throttling coolers is usually directly connected to the atmosphere, and the back pressure is atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the final low temperature obtained is the boiling point of the working fluid under atmospheric pressure, which makes the operating temperature of infrared chips very limited. Generally, nitrogen working fluid is 77.4K and argon working fluid is 87.2K, which cannot meet the cooling requirements of infrared chips in various temperature ranges.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature, comprising a heat exchanger assembly and an inlet pipe connected to the heat exchanger tube of the heat exchanger assembly, and further comprising an outer flange of the refrigerator, the outer flange of the refrigerator being installed below the heat exchanger assembly, the outer flange of the refrigerator having a cavity inside, the cavity being provided with an inflation chamber and an adjusting component that automatically adjusts the size of the refrigerator outlet according to the pressure change of the inflation chamber, the inlet pipe being connected to the inflation chamber.

[0006] Preferably, the regulating component includes a pressure regulating valve plate and a spring. The pressure regulating valve plate is movably disposed in the cavity. One side of the pressure regulating valve plate forms the inflation chamber between itself and the outer flange of the refrigerator. The other side of the pressure regulating valve plate abuts against the spring, and the spring is in a compressed state.

[0007] Preferably, the heat exchanger assembly is provided with a bottom flange, the air inlet pipe extends downward from the bottom of the bottom flange, and the outer flange of the cooler and the pressure regulating valve are both interposed and connected to the air inlet pipe.

[0008] Preferably, the pressure regulating valve includes a valve tube and a valve disc. The valve tube is clearance-fitted with the inner wall of the outer flange of the refrigerator. The valve disc is fixedly sleeved inside the valve tube. The lower surface of the valve disc is higher than the bottom end of the valve tube, and the upper surface of the valve disc is lower than the top end of the valve tube.

[0009] Preferably, the top surface of the valve tube corresponds to the position of the air outlet of the refrigerator, and the top surface of the valve tube is provided with multiple outlet section control channels, which are arranged in a ring array.

[0010] Preferably, the bottom flange and the surface opposite the valve disc are provided with mounting grooves, and the two ends of the spring are respectively installed in the two mounting grooves.

[0011] Preferably, the valve disc has an insertion hole in the middle, and the air intake pipe is slidably inserted into the inner cavity of the insertion hole.

[0012] Preferably, the air intake pipe has an inflation hole, which is connected to the inner cavity of the inflation chamber.

[0013] Preferably, the valve pipe, the outer flange of the cooler, and the bottom flange are arranged coaxially.

[0014] Preferably, there is a gap between the bottom flange and the outer flange of the refrigerator for the top of the valve pipe to extend into.

[0015] The technical effects and advantages of this invention are as follows:

[0016] (1) The present invention utilizes the combination of heat exchanger components and adjustment components. By setting up an air filling chamber and an adjustment component that automatically adjusts the size of the air outlet of the refrigeration unit according to the pressure change of the air filling chamber, and the air inlet pipe is connected to the air filling chamber, the pressure in the air filling chamber changes with the air intake process. It can automatically adjust the cross section of the air outlet of the throttling refrigeration unit when the refrigeration unit is working, so that the back pressure in the back pressure chamber of the refrigeration unit and the back pressure chamber of the throttling refrigeration unit increases, the boiling point of the working fluid increases, and thus the final temperature is different from that of a general throttling refrigeration unit.

[0017] (2) The present invention utilizes the combination of heat exchanger components and regulating components to control the cross-sectional area of ​​the air outlet of the cooler through the pressure regulating valve plate, thereby controlling the pressure distribution in the back pressure chamber, changing the back pressure of the cooler, changing the boiling point of the working fluid, and obtaining a stable refrigeration temperature in different temperature zones.

[0018] (3) The present invention utilizes the combination of heat exchanger components and regulating components to achieve different stable cooling temperatures while fully retaining the advantages of small size and fast cooling of throttling coolers. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the pressure regulating valve plate of the present invention.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Dewar; 2. Refrigerator outer flange; 3. Inflation chamber; 4. Pressure regulating valve plate; 41. Valve pipe; 42. Valve disc; 43. Mounting groove; 44. Outlet section control channel; 45. Through hole; 5. Inflation hole; 6. Spring; 7. Bottom flange; 8. Back pressure chamber; 9. Heat exchange tube; 10. Mandrel; 11. Inlet pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] This invention provides, for example Figure 1-3 The throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature shown includes a heat exchanger assembly and an inlet pipe 11 connected to the heat exchanger tubes of the heat exchanger assembly. It also includes an outer flange 2, which is installed below the heat exchanger assembly. The outer flange 2 has a cavity inside, containing a charging chamber 3 and an adjusting component that automatically adjusts the size of the refrigerator's outlet according to the pressure changes in the charging chamber 3. The inlet pipe 11 communicates with the charging chamber 3. When the throttling refrigerator is working, high-pressure refrigerant is charged into the inlet pipe 11. Simultaneously, the refrigerant flows into the charging chamber 3 through the inlet pipe 11. As the charging process proceeds, the pressure in the charging chamber 3 continuously changes. The adjusting component automatically adjusts the size of the refrigerator's outlet (the outlet of the refrigerator's backflow channel) according to the pressure changes in the charging chamber, thereby regulating the pressure in the refrigerator's back pressure chamber and thus regulating the cooling temperature.

[0025] Furthermore, the heat exchanger assembly includes a Dewar 1, a heat exchange tube 9, and a mandrel 10. The mandrel 10 is fixed to the bottom flange, and the heat exchange tube 9 is spirally wound on the mandrel 10. The Dewar 1 is located outside the heat exchange tube 9 and the mandrel. The Dewar includes a cold finger and a Dewar shell. The cold finger is located outside the heat exchange tube 9 and the mandrel 10, and the Dewar shell covers the cold finger and forms a sealed cavity with the cold finger. A throttling element is provided at the top of the mandrel. The throttling element is connected to the end of the heat exchange tube 9 and has a throttling orifice. The space above the throttling element and the cold finger together form a back pressure chamber 8. The space formed between the outside of the heat exchange tube 9 and the mandrel 10 and the cold finger on both sides is a backflow channel. The outlet of the backflow channel is the outlet of the throttling cooler. The high-pressure refrigerant enters the heat exchange tube 9 through the inlet pipe, and then enters the back pressure chamber 8 after being throttled through the throttling orifice. It is cooled down by the throttling cooling effect. The cooled gas flows back through the return channel to exchange heat with the high-pressure room temperature gas entering the heat exchange tube 9, cooling the inlet gas and amplifying the throttling cooling effect until the cooling temperature is reached. The gas that has completed the heat exchange is discharged through the return channel outlet.

[0026] Furthermore, the regulating component includes a pressure regulating valve plate 4 and a spring 6. The pressure regulating valve plate 4 is movably disposed in the cavity. One side of the pressure regulating valve plate 4 forms an inflation chamber 3 between itself and the outer flange 2 of the refrigerator. The other side of the pressure regulating valve plate 4 abuts against the spring 6, which is in a compressed state. A bottom flange 7 is installed at the bottom of the heat exchanger assembly. The air inlet pipe 11 extends downward from the bottom of the bottom flange 7. The outer flange 2 of the refrigerator and the pressure regulating valve plate 4 are both interlocked with the air inlet pipe 11. The spring 6 is in a compressed state. Through the compression deformation of the spring 6, it is convenient to elastically support the pressure regulating valve plate 4, preventing the pressure regulating valve plate 4 from moving arbitrarily, and also facilitating the elastic support and reset of the pressure regulating valve plate 4. The bottom flange 7 facilitates the partial sealing of the top space of the inner cavity of the inflation chamber 3, and the remaining space facilitates the flow of gas.

[0027] Furthermore, the pressure regulating valve 4 includes a valve tube 41 and a valve disc 42. The valve tube 41 is clearance-fitted with the inner wall of the outer flange 2 of the refrigerant. The valve disc 42 is fixedly sleeved inside the valve tube 41. The lower surface of the valve disc 42 is higher than the bottom end of the valve tube 41, and the upper surface of the valve disc 42 is lower than the top end of the valve tube 41. This allows the valve disc 42 to still have a certain space from the bottom end of the inner wall of the charging chamber 3 when the bottom end of the valve tube 41 is in close contact with the bottom end of the inner wall of the charging chamber 3. This allows the space below the valve disc 42 to be aligned with the position of the charging hole 5, preventing the valve disc 42 from blocking the charging hole 5. This allows the gas introduced through the charging hole 5 to flow into the space below the valve disc 42, increasing the gas pressure and pushing the valve disc 42 upwards. The top surface of the valve tube 41 is lower than the top of the valve tube 41, so that the valve disc 42 will not hinder the normal upward movement of the valve tube 41. The side wall of the air inlet pipe 11 is provided with an air filling hole 5, which is connected to the inner cavity of the air filling chamber 3. The top surface of the valve tube 41 corresponds to the position of the air outlet of the cooler, that is, it corresponds to the position of the outlet of the backflow channel. The top surface of the valve tube 41 is provided with multiple outlet section control channels 44, which are arranged in a ring array. The opening of the outlet section control channels 44 facilitates the outflow of the working fluid, and different outlet section control channel 44 sizes can create different pressure distributions in the backflow channel and back pressure chamber 8. The required back pressure can be calculated based on the required operating temperature of the chip, and the channel size can be designed.

[0028] Furthermore, an inflation chamber 3 is formed between the bottom of the pressure regulating valve plate 4 and the outer flange 2 of the refrigerator. The two ends of the spring 6 abut against the bottom flange 7 and the valve plate 42 respectively. The surfaces of the bottom flange 7 and the valve plate 42 opposite each other are provided with mounting grooves 43. The two ends of the spring 6 are respectively installed in the two mounting grooves. The mounting grooves 43 facilitate the limiting of the two ends of the spring 6, making the spring 6 more stable when deformed. The valve plate 42 is provided with an insertion hole 45 in the middle. The air intake pipe 11 is slidably inserted into the inner cavity of the insertion hole 45. The insertion hole 45 facilitates the insertion space of the air intake pipe 11, so that the pressure regulating valve plate 4 can slide axially relative to the air intake pipe 11.

[0029] Furthermore, the bottom flange 7 is located inside the cavity of the outer flange 2 of the refrigerator. The diameter of the bottom flange 7 is smaller than the inner diameter of the valve pipe 41, so that when the pressure regulating valve plate 4 rises to a state of close contact with the Dewar 1, there is still a gap for gas flow between the pressure regulating valve plate 4 and the bottom flange 7.

[0030] Furthermore, the valve pipe 41, the outer flange 2 of the refrigerator, and the bottom flange 7 are coaxially arranged, so that the pressure regulating valve plate 4 can move up and down along the axis of the intake pipe 11.

[0031] Furthermore, there is a gap between the bottom flange 7 and the outer flange 2 of the refrigerator for the top of the valve pipe 41 to extend into. This gap is annular, which on the one hand facilitates the upward sliding of the valve pipe 41 to provide sliding space, and on the other hand can also be connected to the inner cavity of the back pressure chamber 8.

[0032] This invention modifies the design of the existing throttling refrigerator by adding a pressure regulating component at the intake pipe 11. This component can adjust the back pressure of the throttling refrigerator while it is working, thereby changing the boiling point of the working fluid and obtaining a stable refrigeration temperature different from that under normal pressure.

[0033] The specific implementation method is as follows:

[0034] In the intake pipe 11 of the throttling refrigeration unit, a small inflation hole 5 leading to the inflation chamber 3 is designed. Since the spring 6 has a certain amount of compression before starting, it can provide elastic support for the pressure regulating valve plate 4, so that the pressure regulating valve plate 4 is located at the bottom of the inflation chamber 3.

[0035] During operation, high-pressure working fluid is introduced into the intake pipe 11. Simultaneously, the working fluid flows into the filling chamber 3 through the filling hole 5, creating high pressure within the filling chamber 3. The pressure regulating valve 4 overcomes the elastic force of the spring 6 and moves upward. In the early stages of this movement, the displacement is small and has no impact on the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerator's outlet, ensuring rapid cooling of the refrigerator. As the displacement of the pressure regulating valve 4 increases, the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerator's outlet begins to decrease, while the pressure in the back pressure chamber 8 and the return flow channel gradually increases. After a certain period of time, as the air pressure in the inflation chamber 3 increases, the pressure regulating valve 4 eventually moves to a state of complete contact with the Dewar 1. At this point, the pressure regulating valve 4 moves to its end point, the outlet cross-section of the cooler is reduced to the minimum, the pressure in the back pressure chamber 8 reaches a steady state, and the cooling temperature also reaches a steady state. In this state, the working fluid can only flow out through the outlet cross-section control channel 44 designed at the top of the pressure regulating valve 4. Different outlet cross-section control channel 44 dimensions will cause different backflow channels and pressure distribution in the back pressure chamber 8. The required back pressure can be calculated based on the operating temperature required by the chip, and the channel size can be designed accordingly.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature, comprising a heat exchanger assembly and an inlet pipe (11) connected to the heat exchanger tubes of the heat exchanger assembly, characterized in that, It also includes a cooler outer flange (2). The cooler outer flange (2) is installed below the heat exchanger assembly. The cooler outer flange (2) has a cavity inside. The cavity is provided with an air filling chamber (3) and an adjustment component that automatically adjusts the size of the cooler outlet according to the pressure change of the air filling chamber (3). The air inlet pipe (11) is connected to the air filling chamber (3). The regulating assembly includes a pressure regulating valve plate (4) and a spring (6). The pressure regulating valve plate (4) is movably disposed in the cavity. One side of the pressure regulating valve plate (4) forms the air filling chamber (3) between it and the outer flange (2) of the refrigerator. The other side of the pressure regulating valve plate (4) abuts against the spring (6). The spring (6) is in a compressed state. A bottom flange (7) is installed at the bottom of the heat exchanger assembly. The air inlet pipe (11) extends downward from the bottom of the bottom flange (7). The outer flange (2) of the refrigerator and the pressure regulating valve plate (4) are both interlocked with the air inlet pipe (11). The pressure regulating valve (4) includes a valve tube (41) and a valve disc (42). The valve tube (41) is clearance-fitted with the inner wall of the outer flange (2) of the refrigerator. The valve disc (42) is fixedly sleeved inside the valve tube (41). The lower surface of the valve disc (42) is higher than the bottom end of the valve tube (41), and the upper surface of the valve disc (42) is lower than the top end of the valve tube (41). The top surface of the valve tube (41) corresponds to the outlet position of the heat exchanger assembly. The top surface of the valve tube (41) is provided with multiple outlet section control channels (44), and the multiple outlet section control channels (44) are arranged in a ring array.

2. A throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom flange (7) and the valve disc (42) are provided with mounting grooves (43) on their respective surfaces, and the two ends of the spring (6) are respectively installed in the two mounting grooves.

3. A throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve disc (42) has an insertion hole (45) in the middle, and the air intake pipe (11) is slidably inserted into the inner cavity of the insertion hole (45).

4. A throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, An inflation hole (5) is provided on the air intake pipe (11), and the inflation hole (5) is connected to the inner cavity of the inflation chamber (3).

5. A throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve pipe (41), the outer flange (2) of the refrigerator, and the bottom flange (7) are arranged coaxially.

6. A throttling refrigerator with controllable cooling temperature according to claim 1, characterized in that, There is a gap between the bottom flange (7) and the outer flange (2) of the refrigerator for the top of the valve pipe (41) to extend into.

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